Best LED Flashlights

What makes the “best” flashlight?  There are specialty lights available for a wide range of applications, but the perfect all-purpose flashlight combines compact size, durability, and above all, a bright beam of light.  All four of our favorites utilize LEDs (light emitting diodes) which are energy efficient for maximum battery life as well as extremely durable.

Here is our round-up of the best led flashlights of 2011:

EagleTac P100C2 LED Flashlight

EagleTac P100C2 LED Flashlight

The Eagletac P10 C2 is a perfect everyday light for everything from household use to outdoor adventure.  Measuring just 5″ long, the P100′s anodized aircraft-aluminum case is completely weatherproof and dunk-proof, and features a shock mounted lens and battery housing.  The EagleTac’s pair of CR123 batteries deliver 55 lumens of light from the Cree XP-E diode for up to 8 hours, or 220 lumens in “turbo” mode with a simple twist of the head.

I own the P100, and I’ve been extremely happy with its performance.  The EagleTac’s only shortcoming, according to Amazon reviewers, is its shortened batterly life when used with rechargeable cells.  Overall, reviewers praise the construction and brightness of the EagleTac light, awarding it 4.5 stars.

You can find the EagleTac P100C2 for $39.95 at Amazon. Update: this flashlight is sold out, however a similar flashlight by Fenix is available.

Pelican 2360 LED Flashlight

Pelican 2360 LED Flashlight

Lithium batteries deliver great performance, but some users like the convenience of good old fashioned AA’s, so we’ve included the Pelican 2360 in our list.  Its bright 95-lumen output is more than enough light for most applications, and a machined aluminum body provides dunk-proof water resistance and solid durability.  Runtime is limited to around 2 hours, but the AA format means that rechargeable batteries like Sanyo’s Eneloop are easily swappable.

Simply put, reviewers love the Pelican 2360, which earned a 4.7 out of 5 stars at Optics Planet and a perfect 5 out of 5 at Amazon.  Users praised its high performance and affordable price tag, as well as the LED’s superior life compared to similar xenon lights.

The Pelican 2360 LED flashlight is available at Amazon for $35.92.

SureFire 6PX Pro LED Flashlight

SureFire 6PX Pro LED Flashlight

Simply put, SureFire is a legend in the flashlight world.  And although their lights aren’t a bargain, they offer serious performance and high-end quality construction.  An anodized aluminum body and impact-resistant polycarbonate lens help the 6PX stand up to the bumps and bruises of heavy use, and gasket seals keep the weather out.  Clicking the tail switch cycles through low (15 lumen) and high (200 lumen) settings, and the pair of CR123 batteries keeps the SureFire blazing for up to 45 hours on its low beam.

Reviewers from REI give the SureFire 6PX Pro an excellent 4.5 out of 5 stars.  The only drawbacks cited are the lack of a lanyard ring and adjustable beam focus, but users love the light’s durability and low/high settings.

The SureFire 6PX Pro flashlight is available for $79 from REI.

Fenix TK35 LED Flashlight

Fenix TK35 LED Flashlight

The Fenix TK35 is the biggest light in our list, both in size and power.  It offers six brightness options, which is a good thing: on the highest mode, its Cree XM-L LED throws a whopping 820 lumens of light (serious overkill for anything but technical outdoor usage).  It has other handy features besides blazing brightness though, including two flash modes, a signal function, and a waterproof anodized casing that houses its four CR123A batteries.

GearJunkie.com, a popular outdoor equipment blog, listed the Fenix in its “Best in Show” awards from the 2011 Outdoor Retailers convention.  And Amazon.com flashlight reviews give the TK35 a perfect 5 star rating for its power and compact size compared to full size competitors like the “D-cell” Maglite.

The Fenix TK35 LED flashlight is available for $109.95 from Amazon.

Best Digital Projectors Under $500

The best digital projectors may seem to be the type of gadget that would be out of the reach of many consumers, but the fact is that there are a lot of decent models available for the same price as a small flat screen television.There are a lot of big name brands among the best digital projectors under $500, such as Sanyo, Epson, and LG, but budget models also exist from ViewSonic, 3M, and Dell.

Here are some of the best digital projectors under $500:

Epson’s Widescreen Champion: The EX70

Best Digital Projector Under $500:Epson Projector EX70

Epson’s EX70 is a bit large for an inexpensive portable digital projector, but its widescreen resolution makes up for it. Users can also attach their computer with a simple USB connection, one of very few models out on the market to provide this type of Plug ‘n Project functionality. Of course users can still utilize the VGA input if need be.

The EX70 is one of the best digital projectors under $500 that has good brightness with 2,000 lumens with a 165:1 contrast ratio. It also has a very high level of volume for a projector, which can easily fill a room, however the bass is predictably tinny. The EXS70 is also very short throw, needing only about 9 feet for a good picture. Overall it’s one of the best buys in its price class.

The Epson EX70 is available refurbished from the manufacturer for $495, or from Amazon for $599-$699.

LG’s Loaded HS200

Best Digital Projectors Under $500: LG HS200 Projector

The LG HS200 is an inexpensive digital projector that has a plethora of extras, including USB inputs, wireless FM for an audio feed, 30,000 hour lamp life, and embedded DivX capability. It’s an LED-based projector, so it’s environmentally friendly, but it only supports 200 lumens. It has so many connectivity options, like RGB/component, composite, HDMI, and a 1/8 audio output jack, not to mention the very useful USB.

While the speakers on the HS200 digital projector won’t blow you away, they’re better than nothing. However it’s lightweight, whisper quiet, and has good color saturation overall. The LG name usually carries a good amount of quality with video products and this projector doesn’t disappoint for the price, which makes it one of the best projectors under $500.

The LG HS200 is available from Amazon.

The Tiny Giant 3M MPro150 Pocket Projector

Best Digital Projector Under $500: 3M MPro150 Projector

3M’s MPro150 is not the first pocket digital projector to appear on the market for under $500, but it’s one of the most improved. It’s a bit brighter than older models, holding its own at around 15 lumens. The pocket projector is not for all occasions, of course, but for viewing a quick video or TV show, it’s very handy. It only has a battery life of around two hours maximum, so watching movies isn’t going to happen anyways.

3M provides a composite video cable, as well as a USB cable and VGA cable.  The cable length is around 3 feet for each, not terribly long but adequate for most situations that call for a budget pocket digital projector. 3M also offers an iPod, or iPhone cable that allows users to project video directly from their device. That cable will run you around $50, however.

The 3M MPro150 Pocket Projector is available at Amazon for $359.

ViewSonic’s Light as a Feather PJD2121

Best Digital Projector Under $500: Viewsonic PJD2121 Projector

The ViewSonic PJD2121 is much more lightweight than many other top rated digital projectors its size. While it stands a bit bigger than palm top projectors, it only weighs around 2 pounds, and supports about 308 lumens. While you’ll only get an image size around 35 inches diagonally, its much brighter than most projectors its size, definitely out performing any palm top projector.

The one downside to the PJD2121 cheap digital projector is that it lacks connection options. It only accepts component video and VGA, but doesn’t provide a mouse input for control. With no composite video input, it can’t run 480i or 480p. It also lacks any audio speakers, so an external sound system is needed.

The ViewSonic PJD2121 is available at Amazon for $406.

Dell’s Micro Monster: The M109S

Best Digital Projector Under $500: Dell-M109S Projector

The Dell M109S is a micro budget projector under $500 that has an 858×600 SVGA resolution and uses Texas Instrument’s Pico technology, similar to the 3M digital projector above. With standard composite and VGA inputs, there are decent connectivity options. It weighs less than a pound and fits in most hands. Its lamp will last around 10,000 hours, and it has an 800:1 contrast ratio.

The M109S digital projector features 50 lumens, and can display up to 480,000 pixels total. While you may not take this into the boardroom, it’s great for home use for quick videos.

The Dell M109S is available at Amazon for $350.

The Versatile Vivitek D825MS

Best Digital Projector Under $500: Vivitek D825MS Projector

The Vivitek D825MS is a cheap projector quite light and supports 2500 lumens. With a resolution of 800 x 600, it’s not the best projector out there, but one wouldn’t expect that for under $500. It has no speakers, so an external sound system is needed for audio. It has a decent contrast ratio of 2200:1, and it delivers in color accuracy.

This digital projector also doesn’t have air filters that can sometimes get clogged and make the projector overheat. It cools down so fast, in fact, that it doesn’t even need the standard two minutes before unplugging.

The Vivitek D825MS is available at Amazon for $400.

Looptworks Hoptu Laptop Sleeve

I’ve been testing some Looptwork products, and they are amazing. Here’s why: the company makes all their products from 100% industrial “excess” materials. That means every zipper, button and thread used in their designs was about to be thrown out. For example, the Hoptu Laptop Sleeve shown above is made with 100% upcycled nylon neoprene which was recovered from a wetsuit factory. All Looptwork products are limited edition runs. This is because production only continues until the reclaimed material runs out, as explained in the Looptworks FAQ:

We never know how much of any one material we’ll find. But we use what we find until it runs out. Production runs go as low as 100 pieces and up to 500, and each garment is hand numbered by either color or style. It’s a reminder that when you buy a LooptWorks product you get a one of a kind item, literally preventing the materials used to make it from going into a landfill.

Looptworks also offers a collection of men’s and women’s clothes. The Men’s Kawasan Jacket shown below is made of 61% organic cotton and 39% cotton canvas recovered fabric. It sells for $95.

Looptworks Kawasan Jacket

Here’s a MetaEfficient Keyring. It’s a collection of lightweight, mini-tools suitable for carrying on a keyring.

The keyring contains the following elements:

• The LD01 Flashlight by Fenix (powered by a hybrid rechargeable AAA battery)
• The folding waterproof Inka Pen
• The 6-in-1 Key Ring Tool by Swiss+Tech
• An Emergency Cash Holder by Cash Can

Here are the details of the MetaEfficient Keyring elements:

The LD01 Keyring Flashlight by Fenix

Fenix Keyring Flashlight Powered by AAA Battery

Why It Was Chosen

The Fenix LD01 is the brightest keyring-sized flashlight that runs on a standard AAA battery. This means it can be powered by a hybrid rechargeable AAA battery. It produces 80 lumens of light on its highest setting.

The Fenix LD01 uses a Cree Q5 LED as its light source, and the lens is made of toughened, anti-reflective glass. It weighs 1.6 ounces, and it is “IPX-8 water proof” meaning it is suitable for continuous submersion.

The flashlight is RoHS compliant (meaning it does not contain non-toxic heavy metals or flame retardants).

It’s available for $35 from Amazon.

The Inka Pen

Why It Was Chosen

The Inka Pen is a keyring sized ball-point that can be used quickly as a half-sized pen, or unfolded into a full-sized pen. Using a pressurized ink cartridge, the Inka Pen is waterproof and write at any altitude or temperature. It’s made in the U.S. and has a lifetime warranty.

The “6-in-1 Key Ring Tool” by Swiss Tech

Why It Was Chosen

The “6-in-1 Key Ring Tool” is a keyring-sized multitool by Swiss Tech. It contains the following:

• straight knife blade
• a serrated cutting surface
• a micro-sized screwdriver
• a Phillips screwdriver
• an eyeglass screwdriver
• bottle opener

The tool weighs 0.5 oz. Given its size, it’s pretty basic, its handy when you have nothing else available, but not suitable for everyday tasks.

The Mini Cash Can

The Mini Cash Can: A Keyring Sized Emergency Money Consealer

Why It Was Chosen

The Mini Cash Can is an emergency cash holder than fits on your keyring. You can secret a single bill inside this stealthy container. If you forget your wallet, you have the cash inside as a back-up. The Cash Can’s assembly cannot accidentally come apart as long as the keyring is through the hole. The container is waterproof.

I actually found a little difficult to fit a bill inside the Mini Can — the larger Mini II might be a better choice.

Toshiba Dynario Fuel Cell Device Charger (photo: Toshiba)

The first commercially available fuel cell device charger is here! (Well, technically it’s only “here” if you’re reading this in Japan, but that should soon change). Toshiba’s Dynario charger packs fuel cell technology into a portable package that can provide instant power to a dead mobile phone or other gadget, completely off the grid.

The Dynario uses small amounts of highly concentrated methanol along with ambient oxygen to create the power-producing chemical reaction. Users simply add a pre-packaged dose of methanol to the charger, which generates enough juice in a matter of seconds to fully charge two mobile phones. An internal lithium-ion battery stores the power that’s created, and the Dynario uses a standard USB cable as its output.

Toshiba Dynario Fuel Cell Device Charger (photo: Toshiba)

The limited run of 3,000 units was released in Japan at the end of October, retailing for about US$330. Replacement methanol packs are available for around $6 each. Toshiba states that it is treating the Dynario as a sort of market test, keeping a close eye on consumers’ reactions to the charger. As mobile devices continue to get more power-thirsty, more advanced fuel cell chargers are likely to appear in other markets worldwide.

Toshiba Japan – Dynario Press Release

The frames of these sunglasses (Dragon Experience Eco) are not made with petroleum.

Instead they are made with Nylon 11, the only commercially successful high volume biopolymer, which is made by polymerizing a split segment of castor bean oil.

The original process was discovered by Nazi chemists looking for a way to make plastics after the Allies cut of their oil supply. After the war, the patents were sold to Dupont, and then later to the French chemical company called Arkema Group.

The lens of sunglasses are not made with a renewable material — they are made with a conventional polycarbonate.

The only other sunglasses made with renewable materials are those made with wood or bamboo.

The E.C.O. launches as part of Rob Machado’s unisex Experience collection, which includes FSC certified packaging and 100% organic cotton bags, printed with water-based ink.

Available from: Amazon for $89.

Home Page: Dragon Experience

I’ve been testing a new line of bags called Terraclime by Lowepro. I was impressed by the fact that 95% of the material used to make these bags is recycled content. The fabric is made with recycled PET bottles (i.e. post-consumer plastic). The hooks and zippers are made from plastic salvaged from the factory floor, and reground.

Terraclime bags are available in four sizes — the smallest pouch (shown above) is designed to accommodate a phone or point-and-shoot camera, while the largest model is more like a shoulder bag and includes a padded equipment wrap for items as large as a digital SLR camera (shown at the top of the page).

I like the attention to detail in the design of these bags: they feature nice interior cushioning, and the nifty hooks on the exterior.

They are available from Amazon.

The Brelli is said to be world’s first biodegradable umbrella. Inspired by asian parasols, the Brelli’s handle and frame are crafted from bamboo (sustainably-harvested), and the canopy is made out of an innovative bioplastic. The canopy can be composted in conventional landfills  –  it has passed stringent tests certifying that it will fully biodegrade in one to two years.

The Brelli is available in two sizes: a 37″ diameter version ($28) and a 52″ diameter version ($38). It’s currently available at Fred Siegel, Zero Minus Plus and Jussara Lee in New York.

Web site: Brelli

Via: Alternative Consumer

This distinctive felt briefcase was designed by Daff from Germany. It’s made out of 100% merino wool felt that resists piling. It features a roomy interior with two main pockets and space under the front flap for credit cards and ID, as well as a cell phone storage pocket. Available from Unica Home for $275. Found via Better Living Through Design

Jimi 100% Recycled Wallet

The Jimi Wallet is a compact, splash-proof wallet made out of recycled plastic. It is billed as a wallet for those who don’t like regular wallets, with an eye towards travelers, cyclists and anyone who needs a minimalist wallet. Available from Amazon.